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Long-term projects

Long-term projects

Day by day, we’re seeing amazing things. We know that through practical, long-term support communities can build their own future free from poverty.

Big steps. Made possible by supporters with big hearts.

THREE WAYS YOU SHAPE THE FUTURE

As part of the global Oxfam movement, we’re involved in schools, hospitals, maternity clinics, water and sanitation, employment schemes, infrastructure, business training and lots more.

From helping farmers increase their harvest to providing healthcare and strengthening the rights of women, we promote self-reliance and help people put their own ideas into action.

Here’s three ways you’re changing lives forever.

Linley from Malawi farms better Photo: Zilani Khonje / Oxfam

Food for all

Farming is always a challenge, but drought and floods could mean not being able to feed your family.

We work with communities to develop better farming methods. Through irrigation and improved techniques, we increase food production, keeping families safe from hunger.

We develop cooperatives and local businesses to help farmers sell their crops, generating money to help them sustain a better life.

Linley Godfrey from Blantyre in Malawi knows the benefits of our approach. She was one of over 20,000 people in her area to benefit from Oxfam’s training programme, which introduced better farming techniques to the community.

Today, using those techniques, farmers in Blantyre are reaping the rewards.

“We were introduced to modern agriculture technology and I started applying the knowledge and practical skills I learned in my own field,” she said. “I have been empowered to depend on myself.”

Pretty can live again Photo: Oxfam partner

HIV and AIDS

Along with helping people living with HIV and AIDS to have long and active lives through access to medical care, we’re raising awareness to help prevention, tackling stigma faced by those affected by the disease and helping local groups lobby for their rights.

Pretty Chitare from Chibharo village in Zimbabwe was once so sick from HIV-related illnesses that she had lost all hope of living.

But with the right medical treatment, Pretty has been re-born.

“My family members had lost hope in my ability to recover and were prepared to accept my death,” she said. “I was unable to walk, sit, bathe and even eat. After getting medical assistance, I adhered to the treatment that I was given and recovered. I am living positively with HIV. I resurrected from the grave.”

Girijar is a leader in her community Photo: Lucy Davies / Oxfam

Empowering women

Seven out of 10 people affected by poverty are women. Many factors – including domestic violence, discrimination and lack of access to education – can prevent women from reaching their full potential.

But supporting women to empower themselves is key to lifting communities out of poverty because their valuable – but great underused – skills, resilience, determination and ingenuity.

We help women claim their rights and challenge the attitudes that result in gender-based violence. Your support enables women to emerge from the shadows to take on leading roles in their communities for the benefit of all.

Girijar Panchal comes from a poor community near Uttar Pradesh in India. Her poverty was compounded by her gender. Women in her village had no voice and no rights.

We worked with a local partner to establish women’s groups. Suddenly, everything changed.

Girijar and the other women of her village began to assert themselves. To speak up for themselves.

Today, she has taken on a lease on some land and grows cotton. Girijar has also set up a small shop.

“Women stayed in the home,” she says. “Women were not allowed outside very often, and when we went out we had to wear veils completely over our heads.

“We used to work as bonded labours on rich people’s fields. We had to borrow money from them and had to pay such a high interest that we worked long hours for free. Now we have sufficient money in our own hands and we no longer need to borrow from them.

“Freedom is our right. We can achieve this through working together. Poverty can be overcome.”

Ending poverty starts with women

Our Ending Poverty Starts with Women campaign calls for greater government support for projects that empower women and to combat violence against women and girls. Find out how you can be part of the solution.